Apply for a heritage permit

Before you start, review Heritage Victoria's guiding principles and discuss your proposal with Heritage Victoria.

• Heritage Victoria's guiding principles (PDF, 107.9 KB)

Heritage Victoria offers pre-application meetings where details of the application and information to be submitted are discussed. This can help to ensure your application has considered Heritage Victoria’s concerns, your documentation is complete, and can reduce delays from further information having to be sought during the assessment stage.

We can provide:

• feedback on how the proposal may affect the heritage significance
• advice on the appropriate heritage approval process
• advice on what additional information you need to supply with your application
• information on how your application will be processed.

Pre-application meetings are available on request.

Complete the pre-application registration form (DOCX, 160.9 KB).

Any commentary made by Heritage Victoria during a pre-application meeting and in subsequent correspondence should not be interpreted as acceptance or refusal of a proposal. Permit applications are determined following consideration of the application against relevant policies and the criteria of the Heritage Act.

Getting the right professional advice at the very beginning of your project will help develop your ideas to meet both Heritage Victoria’s expectations and your objectives.

Heritage assessment and decision-making can be complicated. It is likely you will need to engage experts in heritage and other matters to assist you in the preparation of your documentation. This may include an assessment of heritage impacts, reasonable use, economic use, and other matters.

Experts can guide you through the process and assist with the preparation of required documentation. Further information on what to include with your permit application found on resources for permit applicants.

Review Heritage Victoria’s guidance on the documentation you should include in your permit application to understand what information needs to be provided with your application, and what policies and provisions Heritage Victoria will use to assess it. It may be useful to read more about specific permit topics or review Heritage Victoria’s policy and guidance.

Documentation to accompany your application should outline the full details of your proposed works, including a heritage impact statement and plans. If you have engaged experts, commission them to prepare your documentation. Further information on what to include in your permit application can be found on the page resources for permit applicants.

Check you’ve collected and completed all the information that needs to be submitted with your application.

Lodge your heritage permit application

After you lodge the application, Heritage Victoria will check it and advise you in writing if further information is required. If they do, you should provide the information promptly otherwise the application won’t be processed further.

After the public notice period, Heritage Victoria will complete the assessment of the approval. This is a report which describes:

• why the place or object is of heritage significance
• the proposal and its impacts to heritage significance
• the extent to which the refusal of the application would affect the reasonable or economic use of the place
• any submissions made
• impacts to world heritage values or adjacent heritage places
• protection and conservation matters
• any other relevant matter

Heritage Victoria will judge the impacts of your proposal, and may have to strike a balance between competing objectives. We consider a range of principles, guidelines and legislation to make the recommendation:

• Heritage Victoria's Guiding Principles (PDF, 107.9 KB)
• Search for guidelines in our Resource Library
• Legislation

Heritage Victoria may indicate in advance if your application is likely to be partially approved or refused. This gives you an opportunity to make changes to your application which address Heritage Victoria’s concerns. You are not under any obligation to amend the application.

A decision about whether to issue a heritage permit will be made by the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria, or their delegate.

It usually takes about 60 calendar days after lodging your application to receive a decision.

The Heritage Council of Victoria is the review body for Heritage Victoria’s decisions about permit applications. Owners or permit applicants who are dissatisfied with a decision can apply to the Heritage Council within 60 days to present their case.